Game Review

Blues go top
Carlton has one foot in the top two after a 16-point win over Brisbane at Ikon Park. In the season-defining clash, the Blues catapulted to top spot in Conference B with the 6.7 (43) to 4.3 (27) result. The Lions looked up for the task when they led by four points at quarter time, but the Blues looked the better side with three goals in the third term breaking the game open. Maddy Prespakis continued her terrific debut season and was unstoppable despite the heavy tag. The 18 year-old finished the day with a game high 27-disposals, the best figures for the youngster in her short career.Quarter-by-quarter:Q1: It wasn’t an ideal start for Carlton, as Brisbane dominated the first 10 minutes of the match. The Lions’ fast-start caught the Blues on the hop, resulting in the first goal through Kate McCarthy. But Carlton halted Brisbane’s run with the returning Tilly Lucas-Rodd’s first goal of the season in her first match of the season. The Lions finished the term ahead, however, when debutant Jade Ellenger kicked her first goal.Q2: The opening 10 minutes of the second quarter saw an arm-wrestle between the Blues and Lions, with neither side able to gain momentum. That was snapped when Tayla Harris roved a marking contest and delivered to Brooke Walker, who hand-balled over the top to Darcy Vescio for the first and only goal of the term. Alison Downie was dominating the ruck duel and giving premium service to Madison Prespakis, who had 14 possessions to half-time. Jayde Van Dyk collected eight disposals and was leading Carlton’s defence along with Jess Hosking.Q3: In the premiership quarter, and the most-important quarter of Carlton’s season so far, the Blues stepped up the intensity to take a stranglehold on the match. Harris set the tone for the term when she towered over a pack for a huge contested grab and followed it up with the first goal of the half. The Lions responded when Ellenger kicked her second, but it was all Carlton from there. Walker kicked her first goal in AFLW and then followed it up with another minutes later when she combined with fellow rugby convert Chloe DaltonQ4: As was the case in the third quarter, Harris kicked the first goal of the fourth term and the orange flags were set in motion around Ikon Park. The Blues locked the ball in their forward half for the term and never looked like losing their grip on the match. Prespakis again dominated the quarter with nine possessions, while Jess Hosking and Gab Pound cut off the Lions’ supply.Three things we learned:
1) Brooke Walker and Chloe Dalton are coming of age in the AFLW. The rugby converts had 13 and 12 disposals respectively, but their impact on the match was significant, particularly Walker’s two goals. 2) Maddy Prespakis is a ball magnet. Today, she collected another 27 possessions in another best-on-ground performance. 3) The Blues don’t have to rely on the superstar forwards to compete. While Harris and Vescio did hit the scoreboard, it was the work of the less-heralded forwards that would have pleased the Carlton faithful.Player of the match: It’s hard to go beyond Maddy Prespakis’ 27 possession game. She dominated the midfield and propelled the ball forward on countless occasions. - Tennyson Tinning.